Triple H Draws WWE Universe’s Wrath After Shocking Finish to John Cena’s Farewell Match Against Gunther

WWE fans flooded social media with backlash, questioning Triple H’s creative choice to have John Cena tap out in his final match.

Triple H Draws WWE Universe’s Wrath After Shocking Finish to John Cena’s Farewell Match Against Gunther

Triple H, John Cena and Gunther (via WWE)

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John Cena’s legendary professional wrestling career officially came to an end on December 13th, but not in the way many fans had imagined. At Saturday Night’s Main Event inside Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital, Cena tapped out to Gunther’s sleeper hold in his final match, bringing a 20-plus-year in-ring career to a close in front of an announced crowd of 19,232. 

Cena fought desperately to escape Gunther’s signature submission multiple times, even summoning one last Attitude Adjustment before ‘The Ring General’ locked in the hold for a sixth and final time. Exhausted and battered, the 17-time champion appeared to smile and subtly wink at the camera before tapping out, signaling the end.

The decision immediately sparked fury inside the arena. While fans fully understood and accepted Cena’s retirement, it was the manner of his loss that triggered the backlash. As soon as the bell rang, loud boos and chants erupted, directed squarely at WWE’s booking rather than Cena himself.

The reaction intensified when Triple H entered alongside members of the roster and WWE staff. Chants of “bullshit” and “you f**ked up” echoed throughout the arena, with many fans clearly blaming the company’s chief content officer for the outcome. Even as ‘The Game’ embraced Cena and presented a farewell video package, the crowd continued to jeer, at one point even chanting for rival promotion AEW.

Not even the powerful visual of CM Punk and Cody Rhodes placing their world championships on Cena’s shoulders was enough to calm the crowd. It was a bitter atmosphere for a 48-year-old legend who had just delivered a physical, emotional classic in his final outing.

However, the match itself more than lived up to expectations. Cena and Gunther traded momentum for nearly 24 minutes, hitting multiple finishers and delivering unforgettable moments, including Cena driving Gunther through the announcers’ desk with an Attitude Adjustment. 

As Gunther repeatedly cinched in the sleeper, the crowd pleaded with chants of “don’t give up.” But one final time, Cena could not escape. Tapping out for the first time in 20 years felt jarring to fans who had grown up with his mantra of “Never Give Up.” On such an emotional night, many believed the sport’s ultimate hero should have gone out on top.

For Gunther, the victory was historic. He now stands as the man who made John Cena submit and retired one of the greatest stars the industry has ever known. While the reaction overshadowed parts of the farewell, Cena still had his moment: walking to the stage, turning back to the crowd, and delivering his final words: “It’s been a pleasure serving you.”

Triple H defends WWE’s creative decision to have John Cena tap out in his swansong against Gunther

During the Saturday Night’s Main Event post-show, Triple H addressed the backlash surrounding John Cena’s final match with firm conviction and a touch of humor, saying he was “mildly disappointed” the chants weren’t louder.

John Cena after his final WWE match
John Cena after his final WWE match (via WWE)

He then explained that the decision was rooted in wrestling’s long-standing traditions. According to the WWE CCO, there is an unwritten code about how legends exit the ring, and Cena has lived by that code throughout his career. 

For Cena, the priority was never personal glory, but ensuring the company was left stronger than when he found it. ‘The Game’ acknowledged that such decisions are often difficult for fans to accept in the heat of the moment, especially on an emotional night like this. 

That understanding, however, did little to quiet the backlash, as frustrated fans quickly flooded social media, hijacking WWE posts to voice their anger over the company’s creative decision.

However one feels about Cena’s final match, the 17-time world champion delivered one last unforgettable reaction. While some fans directed their anger toward Triple H, it’s difficult to imagine the bout ending that way had Cena himself objected to it.

The smile that crossed his face just before he tapped out said everything. After 23 long years, Cena understood the moment, the meaning, and the finality of it all. His time was up, and he gave everything he had left in the ring one last time.

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